title: Steroids in biliary atresia: single surgeon, single centre, prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of adjuvant steroids in infants with biliary atresia (BA) is not clear and evidence of benefit is lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period Jan. 2000-Dec. 2011, 153 infants with isolated (CMV IgM-ve) BA underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) at<70 days. They were divided into three groups: LOW-dose steroid (from a previous randomized trial; starting prednisolone 2mg/kg/day, n=18), HIGH-dose steroid (starting prednisolone 5mg/kg/day, n=44), and NO steroid [n=72+19 placebo (from randomized trial)=91]. Outcome was assessed by early liver biochemistry, clearance of jaundice (<20 μmol/L), and actuarial native liver survival. Data are quoted as median (IQ range) and compared with non-parametric ANOVA, Chi or Log-rank tests as appropriate. p ≤ 0.05 was regarded as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three groups were comparable for age (ANOVA, p=0.31) and a surrogate marker of liver fibrosis [aspartate-aminotransferase index (APRi), ANOVA, p=0.67]. At 1 month post KPE, there was a significant reduction in bilirubin [58 (25-91) vs. 91 (52-145)μmol/L, p=0.0015], AST [118 (91-159) vs. 155 (108-193)IU/L, p=0.0015], and APRi [0.49 (0.28-0.89) vs. 0.82 (0.45-1.2), p=0.005] for HIGH vs. NO steroid. There was a significant increase in % clearance of jaundice with the use of steroids [47/91 (52%) vs. 12/18 (67%) vs. 29/44 (66%); steroids vs. no steroids, p=0.037]. There was no statistical difference in 4-year patient survival (96% vs. 94% vs. 95%) or native liver survival (4 year=46% vs. 50 vs. 57%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adjuvant use of prednisolone significantly improved early post-operative liver biochemistry (especially at the higher dose), and increased the proportion of infants who cleared their jaundice at 6 months post-KPE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK. Electronic address: Markdav2@ntlworld.com.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tizzard
authors.forename: Nedim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadzic
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011171:Portoenterostomy, Hepatic; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D011239:Prednisolone; D001663:Bilirubin
keywords: APRi; AST; BA; BASM; Biliary Atresia Splenic Malformation; Biliary atresia; CMV; HLA; IBA; KPE; Kasai portoenterostomy; LT; NLS; Prognosis; Steroids; aspartate aminotransferase; aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index; biliary atresia; cytomegalovirus; human leucocyte antigen; isolated biliary atresia; liver transplantation; native liver survival; γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; γGT